Rocker arm assembly including fulcrum mounted lubricant deflector

ABSTRACT

A rocker arm assembly for the operation of a valve in an internal combustion engine in which the rocker arm is pivotally mounted on a fulcrum supported by the cylinder head of the engine. A lubricant deflecting means mounted on the fulcrum is employed to deflect lubricant that flows through a push rod having a lubricant passage positioned therein and through an aperture in one end of the rocker arm onto the bearing means that pivotally supports the rocket arm on the fulcrum.

[ June 6, 1972 United States Patent Sandusky 3,568,799 3/1971 3,146,7679/1964 Dadd 2,955,581 10/1960 [72] Inventor: Bernard J. Sandusky,Dearborn Heights, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Mich.

786,242 11/1957 GreatBritain................,.....123/90 HI PrimaryExaminer-Al Lawrence Smith Attorney-John R. Faulkner and Keith L.Zerschling [57] ABSTRACT A rocker arm assembly for the operation of avalve in an inter- [73] Assignee: Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich.

[22] Filed: Dec. 31, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 103,218

[52] US. Cl......................123/9035,123/9037,123/9041,

184/6.9 ....F0lm9/10,F01l1/18 123/9036, 90.37, 9042, 90.41,

nal combustion engine in which the rocker arm is pivotally [51] mountedon a fulcrum supported by the cylinder head of the [58] new of Searchengine. A lubricant deflecting means mounted on the fulcrum 123/9035, 90H, 90 H1, 195 C, 198 E; 184/6.9

is employed to deflect lubricant that flows through a push rod having alubricant passage positioned therein and through an aperture in one endof the rocker arm onto the bearin that pivotally supports the rocket armon the fulcrum.

g means References Cited 2,811,959 11/1957 Etchells..........................123/9036 X 8 Claims, 9 Drawing FiguresPATENTEDJUN s 1972 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTO/P ATTOPN s ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLYINCLUDING FULCRUM MOUNTED LUBRICANT DEFLECTOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to an internal combustion engine havinga valve operating rocker arm pivotally mounted upon the cylinder head ofthe engine, and, more particularly, to such an internal combustionengine including lubricant deflecting means that deflects lubricantflowing through a hollow push rod and a portion of the rocker arm ontothe bearing means that pivotally supports the rocker arm on the cylinderhead.

In modern day automotive vehicles, the rocker arms for operating thevalves of the internal combustion engine are mounted on the cylinderhead via pedestals which are cast into this cylinder head. Thesepedestals ordinarily carry studs or bolts which have affixed thereto afulcrum or bearing means for pivotallymounting a stamped rocker armwhich has one end thereof engageable with a valve of the internalcombustion engine and-the other end thereof engageable with a push rodor follower which is operated by the cam shaft of the engine. Lubricantfor lubricating the mating surfaces of the end of the push rod and thecomplementary end of the rocker arm is applied under pressure throughthe push rod which has a lubricant passage means extending throughoutthe length thereof. In addition, the end of the rocker arm engaging thepush rod has a passageway positioned therein so that lubricant underpressure is supplied to the fulcrum or bearing means that pivotallymounts the rocker arm on the cylinder head. It is vitally important thatthis bearing surface be properly lubricated, especially in highperformance engines that operate at very high speeds.

It has been found that if the bearing surface between this fulcrum andthe rocker arm does not receive adequate lubricant, the bearing surfacespositioned on the rocker arm and on the fulcrum rapidly overheat,thereby totally sealing out any lubricant available for these bearingsurfaces and rapidly destroying them through heat, friction and gallingaction.

The present invention is designed to assure that adequate lubricant isprovided for a bearing formed between a fulcrum bearing surface and arocker arm bearing surface at all times during engine operation. This isaccomplished by positioning an oil or lubricant deflecting means on thefulcrum between the stud or bolt that holds the fulcrum on the pedestalpositioned in the cylinder head. This oil deflecting means has anupstanding body portion which conforms to the shape of one end of therocker arm and terminates above the groove or oil passage in the rockerarm. it is situated so that at all times lubricant is deflected from theaperture or lubricant passage in the rocker arm into and onto thebearing surfaces formed on the rocker arm and the fulcrum.

Other oil deflecting or lubricant deflecting means are known in theprior art to accomplish this purpose. For example, in one of thesestructures an oil deflecting means in the form of a sheet metal web isspot welded to the top of the rocker arm cover. This structure hasdepending fingers that are designed to line up with the lubricantapertures or grooves in the rocker arms. This type of structure has anumber of disadvantages. The rocker arm covers cannot be stacked duringassembly or moving operations, thereby resulting in wasted space duringthe shipping of the rocker arm covers from their point of manufacture tothe point of assembly of the engines, In addition, with this type ofstructure, wide tolerances are involved, particularly in the welding ofthese two sheet metal structures, i.e., the oil deflecting structure orstrip and the rocker arm cover; As a result, the depending fingers ordeflectors on the sheet metal strip do not always line up with the oillubricant passages or grooves in the rocker arm. Moreover, during thehandling of these rocker arm covers, in transportation of them, and inthe assembling of them on the engine, the depending oil deflectingfingers or means may be deformed or bent out of alignment so they do notline up properly with respect to the lubricant passages in the rockerarms.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON The present invention is designed to overcomethe disadvantages of known prior art structures and to provide astructure which will positively and at all times during engine operationassure that the bearing surfaces of the rocker arm and the fulcrum onwhich it is mounted receive adequate lubrication. In the invention, therocker arm is pivotally mounted on a fulcrum by a bearing means whichpreferably is cylindrical in shape or configuration with the axis of thecylindrical surface being positioned substantially perpendicularly withrespect to the pivotal movement of the rocker arm. One end of the rockerarm is positioned to engage a valve of the engine and the other end ofthe rocker arm is positioned in engagement with a hollow push rod whichis operated by the camshaft of the internal combustion engine.

Lubricant under pressure is supplied to the hollow push rod and the endthereof that engages'the rocker arm registers with an aperture orlubricant passage located in the rocker arm, thereby supplying lubricantunder pressure at the upper surface or side of the rocker arm. The oildeflecting means of the present invention has a body portion which ispositioned on the upper side of the bearing means which forms thefulcrum for the pivotal movement of the rocker arm under the impetus ofthe push rod. This oil deflecting'means has an upstanding body portionwhich conforms to the general shape of the rocker arm in the area of thepush rod and the lubricant passage or aperture in the rocker arm. It islocated so that at all times lubricant which is forced through thelubricant passage or aperture in the rocker arm is deflected onto andinto the bearing surface between the fulcrum and the rocker arm itself.

The structure described above assures adequate lubrication for thesebearing surfaces at all times during engine operation and isparticularly important in internal combustion engines which operateunder high loads and at high speeds.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a means in aninternal combustion engine to positively assure adequate lubrication forthe bearing surfaces on a valve actuating rocker arm and a fulcrum whichmounts this rocker arm for pivotal movement in a cylinder head.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an oil orlubricant deflecting means mounted on a fulcrum for a rocker arm in aninternal combustion engine which will deflect or direct lubricantdirectly onto the bearing surfaces of the rocker arm and the fulcrum.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention may bereadily realized when the specification is considered in connection withthe attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view through aportion of an internal combustion engine valve train incorporating thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the valve train shown in FIG.1 and including the rocker arm and oil deflecting means of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the fulcrum of the present invention whichpivotally mounts the rocker arm;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of F lG.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the fulcrum shown in FIG. 3 together withthe oil or lubricant deflecting means of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the lubricant deflecting means of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the lubricant deflecting means ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 9 is an end elevational view of the lubricant deflecting means ofthe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings inwhich like reference numerals designate like parts throughout theseveral views thereof, there is shown in F IG. 1 an engine cylinderblock including a cylinder 12 having a power piston 14 located therein.A cylinder head 16 covers the upper end of the cylinder 12, and it has apoppet valve 18 slidably or reciprocably mounted therein. This valve isshown in its closed position. A rotary cam 20 is suitably journaled inthe cylinder block 10, and this rotary cam forms a part of the camshaftof the engine. It is understood that there is a rotary cam 20 for eachpoppet valve 18 located in the cylinder head 16.

A reciprocable follower or tappet 22 rides on the rotary cam 20 andmovement of the follower or tappet 22 is transmitted by a push rod 24 toone end of a rocker arm 26. The other end of the rocker arm 26 ispositioned to engage the stem of the poppet valve 18, and a spring 28 isseated on the cylinder head 16 and is connected to the stem of thepoppet valve 18 to bias it to the closed position as shown.

The lubrication system of the engine may include an oil gallery 30 inthe cylinder block 10 from which oil is conducted by a feed passage 32to the guide bore 34 of the tappet 22. The tappet 22 is of hollowconstruction and has an external groove 36 registering with the passage32 and connected to the interior of the tappet by side ports 38. Thepush rod 24 is of tubular configuration and it engages at its lower enda centrally apertured seat 40 supported within the tappet 22 above theports 38.

The rocker arm 26 may be a sheet metal stamping which opens upwardly toretain lubricant conducted to it from the tappet 22 by the push rod 24.The end of the push rod 24 engaging the rocker arm 26 may have a balltype bearing 42 welded to it which has a central groove 44 registeringwith an aperture or lubricant passage 46 positioned in the rocker arm26. The rocker arm 26 has an opening 48 positioned therein intermediatethe ends of the rocker arm 26 to accommodate the pivotal movement of therocker arm. The rocker arm 26 is also provided at either side of theopening 48 with a bearing surface 50 which is preferably of cylindricalconfiguration, and a fulcrum 52 having a complementary cylindricalbearing surface 54 is positioned within the rocker arm 26 so that thebearing surface 54 engages the bearing surface 50 of the rocker arm Thefulcrum 52 may have a depending generally rectangular portion or sleeve56 that is received Within a complementary shaped depression 58in apedestal 60 which is formed integrally with the cylinder head 16. Thepedestal 60 has a threaded bore 62 extending downwardly from thedepression 58 to receive a fastening means which may be in the form of athreadedbolt 64.

v The fulcrum 52, as shown specifically in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, has anaxial opening 66 extending therethrough for the reception of thebolt 64.In addition, it has a generally planar upper surface 68 having a groove70 positioned therein which extends in the direction generally parallelto the axis of the cylindrical bearing surface 54. This groove hasradially extending portions 72 and 74 to receive the head 76 of the bolt64.

The lubricant deflecting means 80 of the present invention has agenerally planar body portion 82 which is generally complementary inshape to the groove 70 in the fulcrum 52, and this body portion ispositioned in the groove 70 and underneath the head 76 of the bolt 64.The generally planar portion 82 of the lubricant deflecting means 80 hasa pair of upstanding tabs or tangs 84 and 86 which engage shoulders 88and 90 positioned on the fulcrum 52 for properly positioning thegenerally planar portion 82 within the groove 70 formed in the fulcrum52. On the other side of the generally planar body portion 82 there is apair of outstanding angular comer portions 92 and 94 that also serve aslocating means for the generally planar body portion 82 within thegroove 70 and further serve as supporting means for supporting anupstanding curved portion or tab 96 of the oil or lubricant deflectingmeans 80. This curved portion 96 conforms generally to the interiorconfiguration of the rocker arm 26 in the vicinity of the lubricantaperture or passage 46. The planar body portion 82 also has an aperture98 positioned therein which is complementary in shape to the opening 66in the fulcrum 52.

In operation, as the cam 20 is rotated, it moves the push rod 24 in agenerally vertical direction as shown in FIG. 1 via the tappet 22. Thisin turn raises the end of the rocker arm 26 that is in contact with theball bearing 42 of the push rod 24. Consequently, the rocker arm 26 ispivoted about the bearing surface 54 on the fulcrum 52 and the bearingsurface 50 on the rocker arm 26 to open the poppet valve 18 against thebias of the spring 28. When the rotary cam 20 returns to the positionshown in FIG. 1 the spring 28 closes the poppet valve 18 and pivots therocker arm 26 back into position shown in FIG. 1 about the bearingsurfaces 54 and 50.

It can be readily appreciated that under high engine speed conditions,this pivotal action occurs many times per minute. For example, if theengine is operating at 4,500 revolutions per minute, the poppet valve 18will be opened and closed 4,500 times per minute, and the rocker arm 46will be pivoted back and forth about the bearing surfaces 50 and 544,500 times per minute. As a result, it is vital that adequatelubrication be provided for the bearing surfaces 50 and 54. To that end,as previously described, oil under pressure is fed from the gallery 30through the hollow tappet 22 and the hollow push rod 24 to the ballbearing 42. The lubricant then flows through the groove 44 in the ballbearing 42and through the lubricant aperture orpassage 46 in the rockerarm 26. This oil under pressure then encounters the upstanding curvedportion or tab 96 on the lubricant deflecting means 80 and the enginelubricant is then forced down between the tab 96 and the body of therocker arm 26 to lubricate the bearing surfaces 50 and 54.

It can be readily appreciated that in the absence of the lubricantdeflecting means 82 the lubricant from the aperture or lubricant groove46 may be projected over the rocker arm 26 onto the rocker arm covershown in FIG. 1 and that the lubricant may not, therefore, reach thebearing surfaces 50 and 54.

Thus, the present invention provides an uncomplicated and positive meansfor assuring adequate lubrication of the bearing surfaces between arocker arm and a fulcrum mounted on a cylinder head in an internalcombustion engine. This assures adequate lubrication and long life forthese bearing surfaces.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine the combination comprising acylinder head, a valve reciprocably mounted in said cylinder head, arocker arm having one end positioned for operative engagement with saidvalve, a push rod reciprocably mounted in said cylinder head, said pushrod engaging the other end of said rocker arm, a fulcrum mounted on saidcylinder head intermediate the end of said rocker arm, said fulcrumincluding bearing means cooperating with said rocker arm for pivotallymounting said rocker arm on said fulcrum, said fulcrum having afastening means mounted in said cylinder head, said bearing meansincluding a generally cylindrical bearing surface having an axispositioned perpendicularly to the direction of pivotal movement of saidrocker arm, said bearing means having a groove positioned thereinextending generally in the direction of the axis of said generallycylindrical bearing surface, said push rod and said end of said rockerarm including lubricant passage means for supplying lubricant to saidbearing means, and lubricant deflecting means carried by said fulcrum,said lubricant deflecting means including means positioned adjacent saidend of said rocker arm for deflecting lubricant from said end of saidrocker arm onto said bearing means and a portion complementary in shapeto said groove in said bearing means and positioned in said groove, saidfastening means including means for affixing said portion in saidgroove.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said lubricant deflecting meansincludes an upstanding lubricant deflecting tab formed integrally withsaid portion positioned in said groove, said tab positioned between saidlubricant passage means and said bearing means.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which said portion has locating meansformed thereon positioned to locate said portion properly within saidgroove,

4. The combination of claim 3 in which said locating means compriseupstanding tabs positioned on opposite sides of said portion, said tabsbeing engageable with the walls of said groove.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said upstanding lubricantdeflecting tab is formed integrally with said tabs positioned on oneside of said portion.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which said tabs positioned on one sideof said portion includes means for offsetting said lubricant deflectingtab toward said lubricant passage means.

7. In an internal combustion engine the combination comprising acylinder head, a valve reciprocably mounted in said cylinder head, arocker arm having one end positioned for operative engagement with saidvalve, a push rod reciprocably mounted in said cylinder head, said pushrod engaging the other end of said rocker arm, a fulcrum mounted on saidcylinder head intermediate the end of said rocker arm, said fulcrumincluding bearing means cooperating with said rocker arm for pivotallymounting said rocker arm on said fulcrum, said bearing means including abearing surface engaging a complementary surface on the side of saidrocker arm opposite said valve and push rod and a generally planarsurface opposite said bearing surface, said push rod and said end ofsaid rocker arm including lubricant passage means for supplyinglubricant to said bearing means, and lubricant deflecting means carriedby said fulcrum, said lubricant deflecting means including meanspositioned adjacent said end of said rocker arm for deflecting lubricantfrom said end of said rocker arm onto said bearing means and a portionengaging said generally planar surface, and fastening means holding saidportion of said lubricant deflecting means in engagement with saidgenerally planar surface of said bearing means.

8. In an internal combustion engine the combination comprising'acylinder head, a valve reciprocably mounted in said cylinder head, arocker arm having one end positioned for operative engagement with saidvalve, a push rod reciprocably mounted in said cylinder head, said pushrod engaging the other end of said rocker arm, a fulcrum mounted on saidcylinder head intermediate the end of said rocker arm, said fulcrumincluding bearing means cooperating with said rocker arm for pivotallymounting said rocker arm on said fulcrum, said push rod and said end ofsaid rocker arm including lubricant passage means for supplyinglubricant to said bearing means, and lubricant deflecting means carriedby said fulcrum and including means positioned adjacent said end of saidrocker arm for deflecting lubricant from said end of said rocker armonto said bearing means, said lubricant deflecting means comprising abody portion affixed to said fulcrum and an upstanding curved lubricantdeflecting tab formed integrally with said body portion and positionedbetween said lubricant passage means and said bearing means.

1. In an internal combustion engine the combination comprising acylinder head, a valve reciprocably mounted in said cylinder head, arocker arm having one end positioned For operative engagement with saidvalve, a push rod reciprocably mounted in said cylinder head, said pushrod engaging the other end of said rocker arm, a fulcrum mounted on saidcylinder head intermediate the end of said rocker arm, said fulcrumincluding bearing means cooperating with said rocker arm for pivotallymounting said rocker arm on said fulcrum, said fulcrum having afastening means mounted in said cylinder head, said bearing meansincluding a generally cylindrical bearing surface having an axispositioned perpendicularly to the direction of pivotal movement of saidrocker arm, said bearing means having a groove positioned thereinextending generally in the direction of the axis of said generallycylindrical bearing surface, said push rod and said end of said rockerarm including lubricant passage means for supplying lubricant to saidbearing means, and lubricant deflecting means carried by said fulcrum,said lubricant deflecting means including means positioned adjacent saidend of said rocker arm for deflecting lubricant from said end of saidrocker arm onto said bearing means and a portion complementary in shapeto said groove in said bearing means and positioned in said groove, saidfastening means including means for affixing said portion in saidgroove.
 2. The combination of claim 1 in which said lubricant deflectingmeans includes an upstanding lubricant deflecting tab formed integrallywith said portion positioned in said groove, said tab positioned betweensaid lubricant passage means and said bearing means.
 3. The combinationof claim 2 in which said portion has locating means formed thereonpositioned to locate said portion properly within said groove.
 4. Thecombination of claim 3 in which said locating means comprise upstandingtabs positioned on opposite sides of said portion, said tabs beingengageable with the walls of said groove.
 5. The combination of claim 4in which said upstanding lubricant deflecting tab is formed integrallywith said tabs positioned on one side of said portion.
 6. Thecombination of claim 5 in which said tabs positioned on one side of saidportion includes means for offsetting said lubricant deflecting tabtoward said lubricant passage means.
 7. In an internal combustion enginethe combination comprising a cylinder head, a valve reciprocably mountedin said cylinder head, a rocker arm having one end positioned foroperative engagement with said valve, a push rod reciprocably mounted insaid cylinder head, said push rod engaging the other end of said rockerarm, a fulcrum mounted on said cylinder head intermediate the end ofsaid rocker arm, said fulcrum including bearing means cooperating withsaid rocker arm for pivotally mounting said rocker arm on said fulcrum,said bearing means including a bearing surface engaging a complementarysurface on the side of said rocker arm opposite said valve and push rodand a generally planar surface opposite said bearing surface, said pushrod and said end of said rocker arm including lubricant passage meansfor supplying lubricant to said bearing means, and lubricant deflectingmeans carried by said fulcrum, said lubricant deflecting means includingmeans positioned adjacent said end of said rocker arm for deflectinglubricant from said end of said rocker arm onto said bearing means and aportion engaging said generally planar surface, and fastening meansholding said portion of said lubricant deflecting means in engagementwith said generally planar surface of said bearing means.
 8. In aninternal combustion engine the combination comprising a cylinder head, avalve reciprocably mounted in said cylinder head, a rocker arm havingone end positioned for operative engagement with said valve, a push rodreciprocably mounted in said cylinder head, said push rod engaging theother end of said rocker arm, a fulcrum mounted on said cylinder headintermediate the end of said rocker arm, said fulcrum including bearingmeans cooperating with said rocker arm for pivotally mouNting saidrocker arm on said fulcrum, said push rod and said end of said rockerarm including lubricant passage means for supplying lubricant to saidbearing means, and lubricant deflecting means carried by said fulcrumand including means positioned adjacent said end of said rocker arm fordeflecting lubricant from said end of said rocker arm onto said bearingmeans, said lubricant deflecting means comprising a body portion affixedto said fulcrum and an upstanding curved lubricant deflecting tab formedintegrally with said body portion and positioned between said lubricantpassage means and said bearing means.